Addison remained oblivious to the piercing intensity of the man's stare, her focus entirely absorbed by the menu in front of her. "Seabass, bamboo shoots, abalone … " She rattled off one dish after another with ease. To no one's surprise, each choice struck a nerve with Lance. Although he wasn't usually prone to overthinking, the sheer coincidence of these dishes was difficult to ignore. Was it possible Addison was acquainted with Harvey? His jaw tightened involuntarily, and the sharpness in his gaze grew even more lethal, like a blade dipped in venom. The scrutiny in his eyes was almost tangible, teetering on the edge of spilling over. Although Addison was deeply engrossed in the menu, the weight of the man's intense gaze was impossible to ignore. The unusually sharp eyes across from her were locked onto her face, stirring a sense of unease within her."Is something the matter?" She paused her ordering, sat up straighter, and fixed her eyes on him. "If you've got something to say, just spit it out. There's no need to put on a sour face for others." Addison's tone was steady as she looked at Lance, showing no interest in deciphering the meaning behind his piercing stare. Was his anger really because she hadn't picked up his calls or responded to his messages? Though Lance had always been hot-tempered, he'd never seemed this petty before. "Am I showing a sour face?" Lance appeared entertained by Addison's remark and leaned his cheek against his hand with an air of indifference. He let out a dry laugh. "Ms. Daves, I'd like to know—why did you ignore all those calls? Isn't answering the phone a fundamental courtesy? "You couldn't manage the simplest form of respect, yet you expect me to welcome you with a smile? Don't you think that's a bit unreasonable? "I won't do it."Lance's voice dripped with sarcasm, laced with a subtle edge of hostility. The mere mention of Harvey always seemed to push him over the edge, and today, Addison had unknowingly struck a raw nerve. "What? Mr. Johnston arrived an hour late. Isn't this one hour enough time to calm down?" Addison ignored Lance's accusations, letting out a soft chuckle, her voice tinged with subtle meaning. "Spending an entire hour cooped up in the car must've been hard, right?" Her eyes drifted toward the window, settling briefly on the navy blue Rolls-Royce parked outside the restaurant. Lance's expression shifted instantly. "You ... " It felt as though fireworks had exploded in his mind, and the shock on his face grew more pronounced with each passing second. Addison had seen him? Lance, known for his punctuality, valued time as one of the most precious resources—unsurprising, given that every second of the Johnston Enterprise CEO's schedule was worth millions. True to his principles, he had arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. However, just as he reached for the car door to step out, he hesitated. Instead of exiting, he pulled the door shut once more, staying inside. Addison had brushed off his countless calls, seemingly intent on teaching him a lesson for his earlier impoliteness by keeping him waiting. Lance, a man who prized every second of his time, had spent a full hour sitting in his car—out of sheer defiance toward a woman. Yet, all of this had been done in silence, and he never imagined Addison would catch on to any of it. Now, a surge of embarrassment hit him like a wave, heating his face and leaving him slightly lightheaded. Addison arched an eyebrow, her gaze resting on Lance with a hint of amusement. Initially, Addison hadn't given it much thought, but Lance's striking navy-blue Rolls-Royce was impossible to miss—it practically demanded her attention. Her eyes narrowed mischievously, a teasing glint dancing within them as she studied him. Under her playful scrutiny, Lance's discomfort grew, and he awkwardly cleared his throat, finally averting his gaze. "Go ahead and finish ordering." Addison couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his unease, amusement flickering across her face. Addison had never seen Lance like this before, and it was oddly satisfying. "W-what are you staring at? Just go ahead and order your food," Lance stammered, flustered under her gaze. "Okay, okay, I'll order," Addison replied with a grin, and she turned back to the menu, her finger scrolling down as she picked more dishes. "Seabass, bamboo shoots, abalone ... " Her eyes lingered on each name for a moment before adding, "And don't forget mashed potatoes." Lance sat across from her, his face still tinged with embarrassment, and at the mention of the dish, his eyebrows twitched. Mashed potatoes ... That was undoubtedly Harvey's favorite. Addison had ordered four dishes, all of which were things Harvey enjoyed. Given that his brother had no more than five favorite dishes in total, the striking overlap seemed far too deliberate to be a coincidence. Lance's brows furrowed once more, a sense of unease creeping in.